Defeated, George did as he was told.
The bike took him back to the barn, where he had spent the past week or so. Once again, there was no one else there.
‘Here he comes, our two-time survivor,’ Sunderland said, as he got close. ‘We’ll have to put a bounty on your head.’
After he was locked in the pen again, George burrowed into the pile of blankets, desperate to get warm. He shuddered; it was hard to believe his luck could hold much longer.
***
As Mayfly and Indigo stepped into the corridor, Scaredycat emerged from her room.
‘Hi,’ said Mayfly. ‘We’re just going down for dinner. Have you settled in all right?’
Scaredycat peeped out briefly from her curtain of hair. ‘I suppose. I’ve unpacked, anyway.’
‘Good. We did, too.’ Mayfly smiled at her. ‘Come on, let’s see what’s going on with the others, shall we?’
When they entered the dining room, they saw that everyone else, with the exception of Reaperman, was there already.
‘Hi folks,’ Mayfly said as they went in. A couple of voices replied. There were only four spaces left at the table, so they looked for their names on the place cards and took their seats.
The dining room was impressive. The ceiling was high above them, moulded, figured and painted. The walls were panelled in oak and the floor flagged in stone. In the centre was the huge, oblong wooden table at which they sat and, beyond that, a sideboard laden with dishes of food. A massive window gave a view of the front garden and on the wall opposite that was a fireplace so big that a person could stand in it. The same wall also housed a set of double doors, set into an alcove on the left-hand side.
‘What’s through there?’ asked Mayfly. ‘Anybody had a look?’
She gathered from the response that no one had, so she got up, walked to them and had a peek. ‘Oh, it’s the kitchen,’ she said.
After shutting the doors once more, she returned to her place at the table. No sooner had she taken her seat than the door from the entrance hall opened and Reaperman entered the room.
‘Welcome, everyone,’ he said, and he took his seat at the head of the table. ‘Are we all well?’
‘Barring the degenerative terminal illness, I’m just peachy,’ muttered DeadManWalking.
JunkieScum shot him a look.
‘Honey, we’re all just as well as can be expected, thank you,’ said BlackWidow. ‘And, how are you?’
Reaperman smiled at her. ‘I’m very well, thank you.’ He looked around the table and regarded each of them in turn. ‘Before we eat, I’d like to cover some of the domestics of the weekend. Firstly, you are all confined to the house and grounds, now. There is neither town nor village within walking distance, not even a pub, and the minibus and the driver have left. No one other than those seated at this table will be here over the course of the weekend. On Monday morning, people will arrive to help take care of your final arrangements.’ He paused, allowing the implications of that to sink in.
Reaperman continued. ‘We’ll be responsible for organising our own meals while we’re here. Dinner tonight is a cold buffet. The kitchen is well stocked and well equipped. I’ll show you where everything is after dinner.’
Indigo thought about that. He wondered how many people would be here for breakfast in the morning, and whether he would be one of them. He looked at Mayfly, caught her eye and smiled, got a smile in return. It made him feel better. Strange, he thought, how things that you want to happen can still make you nervous. With him, it was mainly first times, he realised. Things he had never done before. Like this.
‘Let’s eat,’ said Reaperman. ‘We can sort out the final details after dinner.’
‘Good enough,’ said SpeedKing. ‘I’m starving.’ He got up from the table and started lifting lids off the dishes on the sideboard. ‘This looks good. Come on, you lot, dig in.’
While people helped themselves to food, Reaperman opened bottles of wine and took the tops off bottles of beer. Soon they were all back at the table with drinks and plates of food in front of them. Scaredycat and JunkieScum barely touched their food, but SpeedKing more than made up for them.
When they had finished eating, Reaperman called for their attention once more.
‘We need to determine the order of departure. No one has asked to be in the company of others at the time of death, so it’s pretty straightforward. Before we go any further, since no one has been to see me to request any changes, is it safe to assume that we are all still happy with what we originally planned?’ He looked round the table; people nodded their assent. ‘Okay. Remember, though, right up until the last second, you still have the opportunity to change your mind.’ He produced an envelope from his inside jacket pocket. ‘In here, I have scraps of paper numbered from one to ten. I propose you pass this round and each take one, then see what order fate has dictated. Any objections?’
‘No,’ said DeadManWalking. ‘Let’s get on with it. I just want to get started on this.’
For once, JunkieScum didn’t disagree with him.
The envelope made its way around the table as each person took a scrap of paper then passed it on. When it came at last to Technogeek, he took out the remaining scrap and passed the envelope back to Reaperman. ‘Shall we?’ he said, and they all opened their papers.
‘Oh my,’ said BlackWidow. ‘I’m last to go.’
‘And I’m first,’ said DeadManWalking, ‘which suits me just fine.’
Again, JunkieScum held her tongue.
‘Let’s get the order written down, shall we?’ said Reaperman. ‘DeadManWalking, you’re first. Who’s second?’
‘That would be me,’ said Monkeyboy.
‘I’m third,’ offered SpeedKing.
After that it was JacktheRiffer, followed by JunkieScum, Mayfly, Scaredycat, Technogeek, Indigo and finally, BlackWidow.
‘Okay, everyone, thank you,’ said Reaperman. ‘DeadManWalking and Monkeyboy, the two of you will die tonight. The following four people will die on Saturday, and the final four on Sunday. Is that understood, everyone?’
They nodded. Indigo looked at Mayfly; he’d have to manage without her from Saturday evening until Sunday afternoon. He swallowed.
‘DeadManWalking, could you be in your room by ten o’clock, please?’
‘Damn right I can. I appreciate this so much.’ His voice was gruff; Indigo realised he was close to tears. He saw BlackWidow reach over and squeeze his arm. DeadManWalking nodded his thanks.
‘Monkeyboy, please be back by eleven.’
‘Will do.’
‘Has anyone ever changed their mind?’ JacktheRiffer asked the question that was on several people’s minds.
‘You finding reasons to live, Riff boy?’ asked SpeedKing.
‘Nah, just curious. I can’t imagine getting this close and bottling out.’
‘This is our first … event,’ said Reaperman.
‘So, we’re guinea pigs,’ said JacktheRiffer.
‘Not really.’ Reaperman paused. ‘I know what I’m doing.’
‘You’ve done this before?’ said JacktheRiffer.
‘My wife … I spent some time in prison because of it.’
‘Man, that’s awful. I’m so sorry,’ said JacktheRiffer.
‘Come on, let me show you the kitchen.’ Reaperman stood up and led the group through the double doors in the alcove and into the kitchen area.
‘Wow, this room is huge!’ exclaimed SpeedKing, taking in his surroundings.
‘This is the pantry,’ said Reaperman. He opened a door and revealed a dry goods store containing rows of shelves, all full. ‘Here is the cold room, and next to it, the freezer.’ Both were walk-in affairs, equally well stocked. ‘The place is adequately supplied with cooking appliances and utensils, and you can see the ovens and hob. Help yourselves to food when you want it. All I ask is that you clear up afterwards. There are dishwashers and there’s always plenty of hot water.’
‘Erm … and drinks?�
� said JacktheRiffer.
‘Bottled and canned beers and lagers are in the cold room, along with white wine. Red wine is in the rack there,’ Reaperman pointed to it, ‘and spirits are in the pantry.’ You’re free to help yourselves, but please note, I will not help anyone die if they are incapacitated. Drink yourself into a stupor at your allotted time and you move to the back of the queue.’
‘But we can have a drink, can’t we?’ said JacktheRiffer.
‘Of course. You can even be a little tipsy. But not paralytic.’
JacktheRiffer nodded. ‘Okay, you’re the boss.’
‘What is this place? Or what was it? It seems extremely well equipped,’ said BlackWidow.
‘It was the country seat of a wealthy landowner, he had it built in the eighteenth century. It fell into disrepair and then was turned into a country house hotel for a number of years. That’s when the kitchen and all the en-suite bathrooms were installed, among other things.’
‘That explains the desk outside,’ said Mayfly. ‘Reception,’ she added, when Monkeyboy raised an eyebrow in query. He nodded.
Reaperman looked at his watch; it was almost nine o’clock. ‘Now, I’m going to leave you to it. Please be so kind as to tidy up after dinner.’ He made eye contact with DeadManWalking and Monkeyboy. ‘I shall see you two gentlemen at your allotted times.’
‘What now?’ asked Technogeek, as Reaperman passed through the door into the hall, then headed upstairs.
‘Now we do our chores, honey,’ said BlackWidow. ‘Then I guess we either socialise in the sitting room or go to our bedrooms, as we choose.’ She glanced at DeadManWalking, then headed back to the dining room, with the others trailing along in her wake.
In the dining room, BlackWidow found a trolley that must have been used to bring the dishes in and started to clear the sideboard. DeadManWalking began stacking the plates on the table.
‘Oh, not you, honey,’ said BlackWidow. She nodded at Monkeyboy. ‘Why don’t you two boys take it easy. Have a drink, maybe.’
DeadManWalking paused in his work. ‘If it’s all the same with you, I’d rather keep busy.’
‘Me too,’ said Monkeyboy.
‘As you wish.’
Once the dishes had been loaded into the dishwasher and the leftovers put into the cold room, SpeedKing and JacktheRiffer sorted out some drinks. They filled the trolley and wheeled it across the hall to the rear sitting room, then served those present.
JacktheRiffer went over to where DeadManWalking and Monkeyboy sat. ‘Here, guys,’ he said, ‘look what I found.’ He put a bottle of Glenmorangie and a couple of glasses on the table nearest to them. ‘Enjoy.’
The others in the group were sitting a little way away from the two men who were scheduled to die first. They didn’t know what to say, how to behave, so they distanced themselves.
‘Thank you,’ said DeadManWalking. He poured two generous measures and handed a glass to Monkeyboy. ‘Here’s to us, son. Us and the long journey home.’
Monkeyboy saluted with his glass. ‘The long journey home.’ His voice broke and he downed the whisky in one to mask his tears. DeadManWalking drank, too, then patted the younger man’s arm. ‘It’ll be okay, you know. It really will.’ He paused. ‘But if you change your mind, don’t you be afraid to say so. It doesn’t make you any kind of a sissy, it just makes you smart. You shouldn’t ever do anything you don’t want to do. Especially not this.’
Monkeyboy nodded. He got his emotions under control. ‘You too, DMW, you too.’
DeadManWalking gave him a smile that could have been a grimace. He glanced at his watch and drained his glass. ‘Ten minutes to go. Time I wasn’t here.’ He regarded the group, looked at each face individually. ‘Good luck, everyone. I hope each one of you has a safe and easy passage.’
‘You too, guy.’ JacktheRiffer spoke for them all. Scaredycat had withdrawn into her hair; Mayfly, perched on the arm of the chair Indigo was sitting in, caught DeadManWalking’s hand and gave it a squeeze as he walked past.
‘Thank you, everyone. Goodbye, now.’ And DeadManWalking strolled out of the room, then closed the door behind him.
‘Holy shit, that’s rough,’ said SpeedKing.
JacktheRiffer nudged him. ‘Quiet, man,’ he said, and nodded towards Monkeyboy.
‘It’s okay, guys,’ Monkeyboy assured him. ‘You’re all going to have to go through this at least once more, some of you, many times more. We’re doing this by choice. Yes, it’s still tough, but we’re going to have to get used to it.’ He smiled; it was a little shaky, but it was still a smile. ‘You’re going to have to get used to it. Now let’s talk about something else.’
‘Okay,’ said JacktheRiffer. ‘What’s everyone’s favourite band?’
Technogeek groaned. ‘Not music again!’
JacktheRiffer shrugged. ‘Okay, then. What’s everyone’s favourite computer game?’
No one answered. A few flicked glances towards the door or the ceiling. Those wearing wristwatches checked them.
‘The last book you read?’ persisted JacktheRiffer. ‘Come on, people, give me something back!’
‘The last book I read,’ said Indigo, ‘was Charlie Huston’s Already Dead.’
‘No kidding!’ SpeedKing started laughing. It had a hysterical edge to it and he had to make a real effort to stop.
‘Mine was Dear Boy,’ said JacktheRiffer, ‘about Keith Moon. It’s a whopper of a book, but an awesome read.’
‘Would you recommend it?’ asked SpeedKing.
‘Oh, definitely,’ said JacktheRiffer, then stopped when he saw SpeedKing’s shoulders shaking. ‘But not to you lot, obviously.’ He lost it and started laughing, too. Mayfly moved closer to Indigo. Scaredycat retreated further into her hair.
‘All right, you guys,’ said BlackWidow. ‘Let’s take it down a notch.’
Technogeek looked at his watch. ‘He’s either dead or dying. Right now. While we sit here. Dead or dying.’
‘That’s his choice,’ said BlackWidow. ‘Just like it’s ours to be here. No one’s forcing him to do this, just remember that.’
‘I know, but—’
‘But nothing.’
‘She’s right,’ said Monkeyboy. ‘We all want this. Me, I’m sort of scared, but I’m just a bit excited, too.’
‘Excited!’ exclaimed SpeedKing.
‘Yes. I’m going to find out how it feels to die and I’ve wanted to know that for a long time. I know exactly when it will happen. I’ve left all my stuff in order, it’s all sorted out. Everything. I’ve said my goodbyes, even though the people I said them to don’t realise it yet. I’m going in the way I want, when I want and because I want to. So, I’m scared, because I don’t know what it’ll be like. But I’m excited, because it’s what I want to do.’
‘Why is it what you want to do?’ asked SpeedKing. ‘If you don’t mind me asking.’
Monkeyboy rubbed his eyes. ‘It’s complicated,’ he said.
‘It’s always complicated, honey,’ said BlackWidow. ‘If it wasn’t complicated, we all wouldn’t be here. Not one of us.’
Monkeyboy looked at his watch. ‘I know it’s early, yet, but I’m going to head on up to my room and get ready.’ He stood and gave a little wave of his hand. ‘Hey, good luck, everyone.’
‘Thanks, Monkeyboy. Good luck to you, too,’ said SpeedKing. He would be next, the first to depart on the following day.
When Monkeyboy left the room, he didn’t look back.
Nothing was said for a long moment as people digested the fact that two people they had known, albeit only briefly, would soon be dead, and that but for the luck of the draw, it could have been any one of them who had just left the room for the last time.
Technogeek broke the silence. ‘I wish that had been me,’ he said, fervently.
Chapter 15
The next hour passed slowly. Outside, rain lashed the windows and the wind howled. Conversation was stilted and sporadic. JacktheRiffer went to his room and got his guitar,
then played soft acoustic music, taking the edge off the silences and making them more bearable. Slowly, Scaredycat emerged from her hair. She didn’t speak, was happy just to listen, but at least she seemed to be present. SpeedKing tapped out a rhythm on the arm of the chair to accompany JacktheRiffer. BlackWidow kept people’s drinks topped up. Technogeek discovered a chess set and he and JunkieScum started playing a game, while BlackWidow watched. Mayfly was still perched on the arm of Indigo’s chair. She had her bottom on one arm and her feet on the other, penning him in, and the two of them were talking quietly, their heads close together. They didn’t notice the doors swing open, were unaware of the man who entered the sitting room until he spoke.
‘Oh, that’s just bloody marvellous! There I am, waiting for the bloody grim Reaperman, and you two are canoodling in a bloody chair. What happened? Did you take up all of his time asking him to marry you instead of kill you so he forgot to come and do me in?’
‘DMW? What the hell, buddy?’ JacktheRiffer put down his guitar.
‘I’ve been waiting all this time. For Reaperman. He … he didn’t come.’ DeadManWalking ran his hands through his hair. It stuck out in all directions; it clearly wasn’t the first time he had done that in the past hour. ‘He didn’t come! F-fuck! You know? Fuck!’
JacktheRiffer squeezed his arm. ‘I can’t even begin to imagine, man.’ He poured a measure of Glenmorangie and passed it to DeadManWalking, steadied his hands until he was sure he had the glass safely in his grasp.
‘Monkeyboy!’ exclaimed Technogeek. ‘Someone should go and check on him.’
SpeedKing stood up. ‘Come on then, let’s you and me go.’
Technogeek only hesitated for a moment, then he got up and followed SpeedKing out of the room.
BlackWidow led DeadManWalking to a chair and sat him down. He was shaking, close to tears. She stroked his back and talked to him quietly. JunkieScum strained to hear, but could make out only the melodic tones of BlackWidow’s voice, not the words she said. Whatever they were, they appeared to be working as, little by little, DeadManWalking calmed down. Seeing that his glass was empty, she took it from him and refilled it, and cautioned him against gulping too much down in one go for fear it should come back up just as quickly. Just as she was succeeding in her efforts to steady DeadManWalking, SpeedKing, Technogeek and Monkeyboy crashed into the room. Monkeyboy went straight over to DeadManWalking.
The Last Weekend Page 7
